Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1887-04-21
WASHINGTON NEWS

larger post-otfices in the country fol the first
three months of the present year were 81 7+6,
GAG: an increase OF S3Sl ,4S1 over the CORES
ponding period last year
First Assistant Postmaster General Steven
son is confined to his bed by an intensely
painful abscesS which has formed in his right
ear. While he IS not considered seriously
i'll, his suffering is extreme and llnremitting
Professor L. l.. Capen, of Boston. who
predicted the earthquake last August. sends
to the National Republican another pre-
dlctron for an earthquake during the period
between April and IL, the critical days be.
ing from lotn 10 the L3Gh, but says. the shock
will probably not be quite so severe as those
of last year.
The American Fishery union recently sug.
geSted to President Cleveland the closing
of our markets to Canadian fish products as q
sufficient measure OF retaliation. The chief
executive, In a lengthy reply reminds the
union that the retaliation proposed is not
designed for the protection of any particu-
lar interest, but to maintain the national
honor.
Secretary Endieott signed the license for
the Kansas City, Topeka & Western Raj
road TO construct a bridge across the Mis-
souri, River at Sibley, Mo. The plans show Q
hlgh IRON bridge with three 40-foot spans
over the waterway of the river. The height
OF the bridge is fifty feet above the high tide
OF 1884, which was seven feet higher than
1881, and greater than the flood heightin any
other year.
Treasurer Jordan writes from Paris that he
expects to sail for New York on the 21st inst
He says that eX-SecretarY Manning arrived
In England in much better health than WheD
he left New York, and that his visit to
Bourne Mouth was arranged before his de
partare from this country, and was not the
result of a relapse. 1t is thought now that
Mr.. Jordan'S successor will not be appointed
until after hrs return in Washington early
in May
A delegation of Irish-Americans called al
the white house to invite the president to at.
Tend the meeting held in this city to protest
against the coercion policy i'll Ireland They
saw Col. Lamont and were Informed that,
whatever the Presidents views on the sub
ject might be- it would be manifestIy improp-
er for him to attend such q meeting in his
official capacity. The committee were con-
WINGED Of the wisdom Of this reasoning, and
withdrew without further effort to see the
president.
BY direction of thesecretary of the interior
the commissioner Of the general land office
has directed the register and receiver at the
Reed City, Mich, land office to suspend
until further orders all action under recent
order restoring to homestead and pre-
land III the Reed City district within the
limits OF the jackson, Lansing and s aginaw
railroad grant This order IS made pending
action on motion to review the secretary's
decision ordering the restoration of these
lands.
The director of the mint under the pro.
visions Of section 1870 Revised Statutes,
and with the approval Of the secretary of
the treasury, has ISSUED 4 circular inviting
designs for the diverse and reverse for the
silver dollar and the minor coins of the
United States. A reward OF not tOeXceed $500
will be made for each accepted set of designs.
The circular Is addressed to Well-knOWn
artists, and invites them to study the coins
belonging to the cabinet of the mint al
PbiIoAolnbia which contains r
tern pieces, the designs OF which are be.
Iieved to be superior to those of several OF
the current coins
DECISION ON THE INTERSTATE Law.
Judge Deadly Of the United States Circuit
court has rendered an important decision as
to the scope OF the Interstate commerce act.
which virtually nullifieS the long and short
haul clause SO far as it affects roads competing
with water routes. The judge rules that
the Interstate commerce act does not apply
to all carriers engaged in Interstate com
merce, but only to such as use RAILWAYS or rail-
ways and Water-craft under common control
for the continuous carriage or shipment of
property from one state TO another. The
case in point WAS that of the Oregon 4
California road, and the judge rules that as
It's carriage OF certain goods IS performed
wholly within the state of Oregon it is there
fore specially exempted by the term o. the
act from the operation OF the law.
THE FISHERIES DISPUTE.
The Toronto Globe speaks of President
Cleveland'S letter to the Gloucester Fishery
union as remarkable and important docu-
ment, which while not exactly pleasing to
American fishermen, is intended as a warn.
ing to Canadians. The Globe says that many
people III the United States, including the
president and his cabinet, appear to believe
that American fishermen have rights under
the treaty which Canadians do not c0ncede,
and continues: From this msunderstand-
ing, il we assert what we believe TO be our
rights, greater misunderstanding may arise
This letter, although StudiouSly moderate
IN tone, intimateS plainly what may follow
The position is, to say the least, exceedingly
serious"
VICTIMS OF MOROCCO USURERs.
The expedition sent ont by the American
consul ut Tangler to break up the Infamous
usury stem which has grown up in Morocco
under the protection of foreign conSulS has
returned to Tangier. They released all the
Moors imprisoned at Alcazar and Larache
under American claims, with the exception
of three who had died. They found the
prisoners in foul prisons, half starved, rag
ged, and covered with yermin Some OF
them had heavy chains fastened to their
necks and legs. notorious uSurer, on
whose claims q majority of the people were
held was arrested by the Moorish minister
and sent here in irons for trial for falsely
alleging that he was an American protege.
The M0hammedanS are rejoicing at the
turn affairs have taken.
ENGLANp,s CLAIM AGAINST HAYTL.
Although correspondence has not yet be-
gun between the department of state and
the government of Great Britain in regard
TO the reported threat of that government to
seize Tortugas island from Hayt in default
of a debt Yet an investigation is being made,
and all of that data relating TO the subject
in the possession of the department is be-
ing collected. The English claim appears
to be very intricate i'll its nature Core
spondence had in Mr. Frelinghuysen's adj
minisuatiOn shows that the claim is an in
dividual one based upon number of ces-
siOnS. sHbceSsions and contracts regarding
the privilege 10 cut mahogany that was not
cut or at least not in sufficient quantity. The
amount of the claim in Secretary Freinghuy
sens administration was placed at 5000, 900.
CHARGES AGAINST AMERICAN NAVY
OFFICERS.
The Navy Department has received an ac-
count of the serious accident at IkeShlmah,
near Nagasaki, Japan. for which Captain
Selfrldge and other United States naval
officers are held TO be to some extent re-
spOnsible. In violation of the law the
officers permitted shell practice within fifty